Quarter of a million travellers with valid passport could find themselves grounded over EU rules

19 July 2023

  • 254,316 British holiday makers could be at risk of having their summer holiday plans grounded due to not having a valid passport before they travel

  • Co-op Insurance says it is vital to check you meet EU requirements, or you could risk the heartache of losing your holiday

  • 77% of Co-op Insurance travel policies purchased so far in 2023 have been for an EU destination

  • Co-op insurance has seen a 32% increase in travel policies sold, compared to last year

With schools out for summer this week, and over three-quarters (81%) * of Brits set to jet off on a summer vacation, Co-op Insurance is urging holiday makers not to delay in checking their passports, as figures obtained from the Passport Office show that 254,316 * Brits do not conform to the post-Brexit rules for entering the EU.

UK travellers trying to enter the Schengen zone, will be turned away at the boarding gates if their UK passport has been issued more than 10 years ago. This is because since the UK left the EU, UK passports cannot be more than 10 years old when used to travel to the EU – which means you need to look at the date the passport was issued, as well as the date it expires. Most people – understandably – assume that an adult passport lasts 10 years, however extra months might have been added to its expiry date if the previous passport was renewed before it fully expired (the additional months used to be rolled over).

And with 77% of Co-op Insurance policies purchased so far in 2023 for an EU destination, and an increase of 32% in travel policies sold, compared to last year, Co-op Insurance is urging people to check their passports.

Graham Ward-Lush, Head of travel at Co-op Insurance, says: “For many years, travellers renewing their passport before the previous one expired were able to carry over any remaining time left. Before September 2018, a maximum of nine months could be added to the replacement’s 10-year length – meaning passports could be valid for as long as 10 years and nine months.

“Passengers may look at their passport, see that it does not expire until well after their return, and believe all is well. However, we urge travellers to check the date of issue especially if it’s before 1st October 2018. If the passport is more than 10 years old on the day of entry, they will not be allowed in.

“There can’t be a more heart-breaking scenario than unearthing a passport the night before travel, only to realise that it is out of date. We want to help ensure that people all over the UK manage to have their dream holiday this summer and aren’t stranded at home due to invalid travel documentation!”

Passport renewals start from £82.50 online or £93 if you fill in a paper form via the Post office.

Find out more about Co-op Travel Insurance here Travel Insurance | Single, Multi Trip & Annual Holiday Cover | Co-op (coop.co.uk)

ENDS

Notes to editors:

*https://traveltomorrow.com/over-80-of-brits-plan-holidays-for-this-summer/ - data taken from Trip Advisor’s summer travel index

* This data was gathered as part of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Passport Office by Co-op Insurance Source https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-passport-office - HM Passport Office can confirm that as of 26 May 2023, the total number of passport holders with a valid expiration date after the 10+ years since the date of issue are 254,316 . Data provided by AllClear Travel Insurance, who underwrite Co-op Travel Insurance policies

About Co-op:

Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives with interests across food, funerals, insurance and legal services. Owned by millions of UK consumers, the Co-op operates over 2,500 food stores, over 800 funeral homes and provides products to over 5,000 other stores, including those run by independent co-operative societies and through its wholesale business, Nisa Retail Limited.

Employing almost 57,000 people, the Co-op has an annual turnover of over £11.5 billion and is a recognised leader for its social goals and community-led programmes. The Co-op exists to meet members’ needs and stand up for the things they believe in.